Funding and opportunities

Innovate UK Smart Grants

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

NIHR i4i Programme Invites Applications to the Funding At the Speed of Translation (FAST) Award scheme

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) i4i Programme is inviting applications to the i4i Funding At the Speed of Translation (FAST) Award scheme from Thursday 2 November 2023 until Friday 1 December 2023.

NIHR and the Office for Life Sciences: ‘The Cancer Mission: Early Cancer Diagnosis Clinical Validation and Evaluation Call

Are you an innovator working on the early detection and diagnosis of cancer? Either at a startup, SME, NHS/Third Sector Service Providers, charitable organisation, local government body, university or research institution?

The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and the Office for Life Sciences have a new £12 million funding call out.

START - pre-incubation programme

“If you, or someone you know, has ever wanted to run your own business, to realise an idea, to have something that’s yours or to make an impact, then START can help.”

Claire Denyer
Project Manager

START is a fully-funded programme to take individuals from business idea to starting a company. It’s a West of England Combined Authority funded programme, led by UWE Bristol in collaboration with University of Bristol, the University of Bath, Bath Spa University and techSPARK.

South West Investment Fund

“It’s great to see this new fund launched from the British Business Bank. It will provide much-needed investment in the region’s businesses, enabling them to thrive, expand, and contribute to the economic prosperity of the South West.”

Cheryl Scott
Industry and Innovation Lead

The South West Investment Fund will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for new and growing smaller businesses for various purposes, such as expansion, product or service innovation, and new processes, skills or capital equipment. It will offer a range of commercial finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million.

VCSE Contract Readiness Programme

“A new programme from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to help unlock government contracts for England’s charities and social enterprises.”

Alex Leach
Acting Director of Innovation & Growth

Support offered: £900k support package + tailored training

Open to: Charities and social enterprises interested in bidding for public contracts.